Inside NU: All Posts by Roll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2020-04-04T07:46:11-05:00https://www.insidenu.com/authors/1562602411/rss2020-04-04T07:46:11-05:002020-04-04T07:46:11-05:00We’ve Been Robbed By NCAA Basketball 10 (EA Sports is Satan)
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aU4WkC41v4yWYLzbaeYhiXT5buk=/0x168:4032x2856/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66603105/IMG_9525.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Thought a global pandemic would be enough to halt Northwestern sports heartbreak? Guess again.</p> <p id="8EEzlb"><em>Living in what feels like a void for content, we here at Inside NU have gone with the decision to launch a special, exclusive, riveting, brand new three-part series. To honor what was originally scheduled to be the week building up to the 2020 Final Four, I will be playing/simulating an entire season with Northwestern men’s basketball via the Xbox 360 and the brutally bad NCAA Basketball 10, undeniably one of the worst sports-related, widely-released video games of the century.</em></p>
<p id="tR7NQh"><em>In these times of trouble and uncertainly, the 2009-10 Wildcats will attempt to do the unthinkable and clinch Northwestern’s first-ever spot in the Big Dance (2017, of course, does not exist in the world of NCAA Basketball 10).</em></p>
<p id="wvikz9"><em>It won’t be easy, but with a little luck, magic and poor video game programming, the Wildcats just may have what it takes to go all the way.</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="dIPjr3">
<p id="6IJPWL">If you missed Part II, things didn’t go so hot for me in the first part of conference play. I had stumbled to a 3-6 B1G record by the end of January, albeit with almost all of my games coming against teams in the top half of the conference. Despite the tough record, I was able to pick up a top-ten win over Purdue as well as other quality victories at home against Illinois and on the road in Minneapolis.</p>
<p id="gqLbkx">With no ranked opponents remaining on the rest of my regular season schedule, I still knew that everything was there for the taking when it came to achieving my goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament. Sure enough, the players (or graphic-based manifestations of code, if you prefer) proved ready to rise to the occasion.</p>
<h1 id="ORym3V"><strong>Conference Play (cont.)</strong></h1>
<p id="Rp17ZV"><strong>Game 19: vs. Michigan </strong></p>
<p id="iOPnhO"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 36-30</p>
<p id="nZbCBE"><strong>Record: </strong>(10-9, 3-7)</p>
<p id="iF80Zw">Well, things got worse before they got better. I opened up February with another close loss to Michigan after a one-point defeat back in Ann Arbor in January. Drew Crawford did everything he could to keep me in the game with 14 points, but the Wolverines were just too much down the stretch. I blame this loss on the fact that Coach Coffman inexplicably decided to coach the game from behind the scorer’s table:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/O_kfXbaEO1LrIxSUsNxYvpF83sY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870688/IMG_2464.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cjyslHbDZr0SsTp3wnQQnTjGA-Q=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870687/IMG_7842.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4nyq3LxnVVeuJ9hEnfaZtXBXs7E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870686/IMG_1709.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="xMG3i2">What are you doing all the way back there, coach??? Stand on the sideline! Your players need you!</p>
<p id="0UbsvX"><strong>Game 20: vs. Indiana</strong></p>
<p id="2TzG47"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 85-65</p>
<p id="MtvAWq"><strong>Record: </strong>(11-9, 4-7)</p>
<p id="24lNCe">When in doubt, you trust the simulation. The Wildcats bounced back at home thanks to 25 points from Juice Thompson and 16 from big man Luka Mirkovič. 2009-10 would turn out to be a dismal year for the Hoosiers in this Dynasty Mode as they limped to a dreadful 1-17 record in B1G play. A loss to that bad of a team may have all but ended my fleeting NCAA Tournament hopes.</p>
<p id="cGk3Va"><strong>Game 21: at Iowa</strong></p>
<p id="Leenmx"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 34-24</p>
<p id="7Ochut"><strong>Record: </strong>(12-9, 5-7)</p>
<p id="37X9bD">A conference winning streak! A double-digit road win! The ‘Cats are heating up. Thompson led the team in scoring, but Crawford’s remarkable second half ‘and-1’ opportunity was the highlight of this one for sure. Check out this nifty take and finish off the glass:</p>
<div id="NjFp6C"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.092%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/St9nzjz2UCCUMzMxCC" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="XILikj">The reaction from Crawford, Coble and the rest of the bench says it all. You absoloutely love to see freshman <span>Alex Marcotullio</span> turn from the end of the bench and taunt the restless crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. </p>
<p id="p5j0gj"><strong>Game 22: vs. Minnesota</strong></p>
<p id="xFCKra"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 40-36</p>
<p id="9KURYn"><strong>Record: </strong>(13-9, 6-7)</p>
<p id="YpW7Fd">Another win over the Gophers (that’s two head-to-head victories now, keep in mind. Is that a ‘We Believe’ sign I spy just to the right of the backboard? The fans are starting to get into it as the ‘Cats near that ever-so-important .500 mark in Big Ten play.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xybbC1n31QMRl8T8xM-DYg0omS8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870694/IMG_9197.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="Kst4Pp"><strong>Game 23: vs. Penn State</strong></p>
<p id="ZWFRTQ"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 70-49</p>
<p id="5UMEF1"><strong>Record: </strong>(14-9, 7-7)</p>
<p id="FzqKjz">Another sim, another win. I don’t really think this game is advanced enough to feature simulation upsets, so I let the computer take care of business here. 22 points from Coble led the way, and just like that we’re back to .500 in the Big Ten. </p>
<p id="hJNlnw"><strong>Game 24: at Wisconsin</strong></p>
<p id="1ZsEWX"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 44-41</p>
<p id="lJWqNG"><strong>Record: </strong>(15-9, 8-7)</p>
<p id="SWBSvj">Barely avoided disaster here. The ‘Cats snuck out a win in Madison thanks to some more good play from Coble, who finished 3-for-3 from three-point land en route to 11 points overall. He’s playing with fire in the season he didn’t play in real life — his last hurrah in the purple and white. At this point I feel like I’ve done enough to earn a spot on the bubble, if not yet in the projected field.</p>
<p id="YFD1qy"><strong>Game 25: vs. Iowa</strong></p>
<p id="TKxfcR"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 27-24 </p>
<p id="diomTL"><strong>Record: </strong>(15-10, 8-8)</p>
<p id="aXsEIM">Well, Marcotullio didn’t get the last laugh this time. It was a dreadful shooting day from NU, with the boys sitting at a 23.5 percent mark from deep. <span>John Shurna</span> was the only one who could get to double figures, and his last gasp effort from three clanked off the rim as time expired. Back to .500 in conference play, but still in a good position to close out the regular season with two games against bottom-tier Big Ten teams.</p>
<p id="ExD30W"><strong>Game 26: at Penn State</strong></p>
<p id="RBLKfs"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 44-43</p>
<p id="i04bnr"><strong>Record: </strong>(16-10, 9-8)</p>
<p id="LY56IP">It’s never easy, is it. I lost my focus down the stretch and nearly let a five-point lead slip in the final two minutes, but some clutch free-throw shooting as well as an inexplicable five-second call (the game glitched and PSU literally just didn’t inbound the ball under their own basket) helped me pick up my ninth conference win. </p>
<p id="4dsnND">I was able to fight off a 22-point performance from <span>Talor Battle</span>, and I’m feeling good, poised to finish two games over .500 in conference play with only a trip left to Bloomington to close out the regular season.</p>
<p id="3KKoUN"><strong>Game 27: at Indiana</strong></p>
<p id="cMNjwT"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 63-51</p>
<p id="75ouxG"><strong>Record: </strong>(17-10, 10-8)</p>
<p id="dfIyZu">Leave it to the simulation to put the cherry on top of what was a remarkable latter half of conference play for these Wildcats. Wins in seven of their last eight games turn a .500 team into a surefire postseason contender. Pretty darn impressive if you ask me.</p>
<p id="gEpRnN">Here’s my resume heading into the conference tournament:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iHoJPAhI7gDTWRhSb7KfWqOvnp8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870729/IMG_7347.jpg">
</figure>
<ul>
<li id="ooZw8L">Two Top 25 wins</li>
<li id="1hLTyZ">Only two non-conference losses (one to Notre Dame, who turned out to be pretty bad, but NC State was firmly on the bubble)</li>
<li id="e3bErv">Fourth in the conference standings!</li>
</ul>
<p id="133X2n">I’m feeling pretty good ahead of the conference tournament. I’m thinking our work is done as far as securing a bid, but a few wins in Indy surely wouldn’t hurt our chances.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="3f6VSf">
<h1 id="D9ZCfo">
<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/big-ten-basketball-tournament"><strong>Big Ten Tournament</strong></a><strong> </strong>
</h1>
<p id="XU7j0Y">Slotting in at fourth in the Big Ten Tourney with a first round bye:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3M6YJkjYfpkzu5UYhzxrPiG0buY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870739/IMG_2815.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="SFkZ2q"><strong>Big Ten Quarterfinals: </strong>vs No. 5 seed Minnesota</p>
<p id="NALmRJ"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 38-29</p>
<p id="bJtZlz">This HAS to be the clincher. A THIRD head-to-head win over the Gophers and this one in convincing fashion. You could barely hear yourself think in CONSECO Fieldhouse after <span>Kevin Coble</span> went coast-to-coast and threw down a jam in the game’s closing seconds.</p>
<div id="glhSqM"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.092%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/WRELbRZnooqSanIdxX" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="MY9mPp"><strong>Big Ten Semifinals: </strong>vs No. 1 seed Michigan State (ranked No. 5 in the country)</p>
<p id="fnrcqj"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 33-32</p>
<p id="p51In1">Oh but the ‘Cats weren’t ready to leave Indy just yet. DID SOMEONE SAY KEVIN COBLE BUZZER BEATER?? Down 32-31 and inbounding the ball with just under two seconds, it’s now or never for Northwestern’s conference title chances.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NbPR6_TATQFRvHipHBoiVAxP_VE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870753/IMG_7644.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="MkEW5F">And the power forward who didn’t even play this season in real life calls game!!!!!!! In Draymond Green’s face!!</p>
<div id="PGyqcq"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.092%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/IgXNsqNasTdV2oKeJ0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="hnG2ZK"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/big-ten-championship-game"><strong>Big Ten Championship</strong></a><strong>: </strong>vs No. 2 seed Ohio State</p>
<p id="nCODFi"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 32-27</p>
<p id="R3qH4o">The magic ran out at the end, but it was still a miraculous run nonetheless. Picked up another top-ten win in the conference tournament, and it feels like you should realistically be talking about this Northwestern team as a mid-tier projected seed (7-9) heading into Selection Sunday. History is about to be made.</p>
<p id="iPZ57f">One final resume reminder before that fateful day:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XswBHKKi4a1dhKCjrXmZJ5-3G7M=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870885/IMG_6837_2.jpg">
</figure>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="CEXrZ4">
<h1 id="sJR77H"><strong>Selection Sunday</strong></h1>
<p id="Fp5UTU">Snubbed. Utterly snubbed. I sat there through the entire janky, stupid NCAA Basketball 10 Selection Show only to see the Northwestern name never pop up. Just an utterly ridiculous robbery by EA Sports and the heinous makers of this video game. They stripped away a chance at Northwestern history, and completely deprived this team of what was deservedly theirs — a berth in the Big Dance.</p>
<p id="Pj7bDv">There is simply no way to make sense of this. NU was left out after a 17-10 (10-8 B1G) record, including a miraculous run to the Big Ten Title game. The squad went 3-4 against Top 25 teams, and had few, if any, truly “bad” losses. And to make matters even worse, the <a href="https://www.thedailygopher.com/">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> were given a No. 7 seed despite losing to the ‘Cats three times, having a worse overall and conference record, and sporting a 2-5 record against ranked opponents. Absolutely despicable. The lads didn’t deserve this.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i3_hXFozOPZHMaj7nJRDgQjmnMs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19870884/IMG_3906.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="utRU50">The rankings of this game seen in the bottom righthand corner of each resume make no sense. Northwestern and its impressive resume were good for a ranking of #99 according to the game’s fictional Media Poll. How on earth did that happen? What formula and algorithm in this game engine decided that Northwestern’s resume was deemed 72 (!) slots worse than a Minnesota team it beat three separate times throughout the season? Blasphemous. </p>
<p id="j94bRU">Folks, we didn’t even make the NIT.</p>
<p id="gWLLUF">The pain felt upon seeing the team fall short like that in the end after such an inspiring season is just devastating. A real chance to make history only for it all to be taken away by a terrible, albeit fictional, piece of programming. This decision stripped me of four momentous days driven by a sense of purpose, a commitment and a goal to bring the ‘Cats to the promised land in an alternate history — seven years before it actually happened in real life.</p>
<p id="iuW2eY">But it came to nothing in the end. Higher powers prevailed. The haunted legacy of an aged video game bereaved this team of a chance at eternal Northwestern glory. It left a bitter end on what was shaping up to be a historic senior season from Kevin Coble. A chance to predict what would have happened had the talented, oft-injured power forward gotten a true chance to achieve Northwestern stardom.</p>
<p id="13bMFF">The bottom line is that this game took away something that should have and deserved to belong to Northwestern University. If this were a real team, with diehard fans, this unprecedented snub may well have led to riots, protests, and worse. Instead, we have chosen to go the route of whining on the Internet (after giving serious consideration to suing EA Sports.</p>
<p id="yObLVm">Stay away from NCAA Basketball 10. Interact with it at your own risk but just know that it only takes and rarely rewards. Know that its ‘Dynasty Mode’ is almost certain to end in heartbreak for underdog squads like the 2009-10 <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/">Northwestern Wildcats</a>. A game like this is against the spirit of March — the spirit of all of college basketball — and for that reason, it should be forever shunned to the depths of video game hell, from whence it came.</p>
<p id="Bm6pGv">Suffice it to say that we are not currently planning on embarking upon a sophomore season.</p>
<p id="DtWpX4"></p>
<p id="9dd5r2"></p>
<p id="B9lGG5"></p>
<p id="0auaZS"></p>
<p id="B1bAI8"></p>
<p id="T19RgH"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/4/4/21207567/weve-been-robbed-by-ncaa-basketball-10-ea-sports-is-satan-kevin-coble-juice-thompson-john-shurnaJoeWeinberg2020-04-02T06:39:17-05:002020-04-02T06:39:17-05:00I’m so bored I’m playing an entire season with Northwestern on NCAA Basketball 10 (Part II)
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R5P1M7vrfjlDXUIaxMh70ClKrSI=/0x336:4032x3024/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66592034/IMG_7607.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>As they fight the game every step of the way, the first half of B1G play produces some big wins for the ‘Cats, but also a few unfortunate losses.</p> <p id="8EEzlb"><em>Living in what feels like a void for content, we here at Inside NU have gone with the decision to launch a special, exclusive, riveting, brand new four-part series. To honor what was originally scheduled to be the week building up to the 2020 Final Four, I will be playing/simulating an entire season with Northwestern men’s basketball via the Xbox 360 and the brutally bad NCAA Basketball 10, undeniably one of the worst sports-related, widely-released video games of the century.</em></p>
<p id="tR7NQh"><em>In these times of trouble and uncertainly, the 2009-10 Wildcats will attempt to do the unthinkable and clinch Northwestern’s first-ever spot in the Big Dance (2017, of course, does not exist in the world of NCAA Basketball 10).</em></p>
<p id="wvikz9"><em>It won’t be easy, but with a little luck, magic and poor video game programming, the Wildcats just may have what it takes to go all the way.</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="A63uJM">
<p id="Kx52Qp">So you came back for Part II? Awesome, guess you’re as bored as I am.</p>
<p id="Pst11R">After a <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/31/21200301/im-so-bored-im-playing-an-entire-season-with-northwestern-mens-basketball-on-ncaa-basketball-10">solid 7-2 showing in non-conference play</a>, Coach Coffman and the Wildcats are revving up for Big Ten action as they continue their quest for a March Madness berth. Juice Thompson and <span>Kevin Coble</span> have N’Westn playing some solid “basketball” (I use the term loosely considering the monstrosity of a game that is NCAA Basketball 10), but conference action is going to pose a big test.</p>
<p id="rd8sxw">With future opponents including <span>Evan Turner</span> and Ohio State, <span>Draymond Green</span> and MSU, <span>Talor Battle</span> leading the charge for Penn State, and a loaded Purdue roster featuring E’Twaun Moore and <span>Robbie Hummel</span>, I was definitely sweating a little bit heading into B1G action. I’m just grateful that Greivis Vásquez and Maryland still played in the ACC at this point, or else things could’ve gotten really ugly.</p>
<p id="tmIRMS">Here’s where the Big Ten stands heading into conference play:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uBqYEeirRd9gnZclfE7EpxRZsf0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19866150/IMG_0037.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="Q7vMIQ">As you can see, the top half of this conference is no joke. Indiana won’t pose much of a threat this season, but besides that, there will be few easy games for the remainder of the season, especially when playing on the game’s hardest ‘All-American’ setting.</p>
<p id="VhPgdN">On top of that, my conference schedule is incredibly front-loaded. My first half of Big Ten play consists of nine games, and six of those will come against teams currently ranked in the standings shown above. The other three consist of playing host to Illinois, a road contest with Michigan, and a trip to Champaign (<a href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ncaa-basketball-10-toughest-places-to-play/1100-6233945/">the 12th hardest place to play in the country according to NCAA Basketball 10!</a>).</p>
<p id="DqCi0d"><em>**Quick side note regarding this game’s list of toughest places to play: We should automatically be skeptical of anything produced by the creators and developers of NCAA Basketball 10, but there are perhaps few things more alarming than the fact that they have Texas ranked as the 15th hardest place to place in college basketball. Having grown up as a UT fan, watching and going to games every year, the Frank Erwin Center in Austin quite literally might be the easiest place to play in the entire country.</em></p>
<p id="q99knz">Anyways, tough conference. Tough opening slate of games. But I’m not worried. This is a team of destiny.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="IdPE9o">
<h1 id="4HUB3i"><strong>Conference Play:</strong></h1>
<p id="Rp17ZV"><strong>Game 10: at Illinois</strong></p>
<p id="iOPnhO"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 32-22</p>
<p id="nZbCBE"><strong>Record: </strong>(7-3, 0-1)</p>
<p id="xslHTV">Well, it didn’t take long for me to learn things were going to be a lot tougher than I expected them to be. I was punched in the mouth on the road in Champaign, unable to get anything going playing in, famously, the 12th-toughest atmosphere in college basketball. When Illinois gets ahead, the screen and controller start shaking so heavily that seeing your players clearly is a challenge. Shooting free throws became impossible. What a well-designed game!</p>
<p id="BLxvb1">A tough start to the conference ticket. </p>
<p id="d85ZYc"><strong>Game 11: Michigan State</strong></p>
<p id="VkaWkl"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 48-22</p>
<p id="AREY4B"><strong>Record: </strong>(7-4, 0-2)</p>
<p id="K7NE2p">This one was humbling. Tough home conference opener. Coming off a loss. Day after New Year’s. The players just couldn’t get up for this one and it showed. Having the students home for break certainly didn’t help, but you’d still expect the players to be motivated with or without a student section present for a Top 25 opponent. The Welsh-Ryan crowd grew restless early on, with a few signs popping up in the crowd suggesting they want Coach Coffman OUT. Seems harsh:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lTK8oo6dmsSTaHTdMIn1DGg3CqE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19866274/IMG_6470.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="BfDAwX">The call of Bill Raftery and Gus Johnson with the CBS theme makes the game a bit more entertaining, I learned, but it was still a roundly pitiful 14 minutes of getting absolutely pummeled by Green and the Spartans. The head-to-head postgame stats were atrocious:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rEEmiWzrNfJKmjpcPWFJOxAjX5c=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19866280/IMG_3894.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/av4zsMo9U1IZmDlpP-4st0Xi97k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19866279/IMG_1119.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="4q9ct3">Check out that field goal percentage disparity. Video game-like numbers.</p>
<p id="uXc6J0"><strong>Game 12: at Michigan</strong></p>
<p id="BDjrUu"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 39-38</p>
<p id="lTX8Xy"><strong>Record: </strong>(7-5, 0-3)</p>
<p id="QKUGMf">This was one just brutal. I counted not one, not two, not three, but FOUR charges on me called outside the three-point arc. <span>Jeremy Nash</span> triple rimmed out as time expired. You just hate to see it.</p>
<p id="qpKaEh">At least these two Michigan fans and their ‘M’ shirts left happy.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VG-Urv5Ii-QJzdD_YFlmfeBD4FY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19866297/IMG_2746.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="JACEkl"><strong>Game 13: vs Wisconsin</strong></p>
<p id="DJLVBG"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 54-53</p>
<p id="quKwaz"><strong>Record: </strong>(7-6, 0-4)</p>
<p id="1oXCTv">Upset and discouraged by my third straight loss while actually playing the game myself, I thought I’d give simulating a try just to see how that would work for me. Sure enough, it turned out to be even more demoralizing than playing, as the ‘Cats squandered a 16-point halftime lead and plummeted to 0-4 in Big Ten play. Juice’s 24 points simply weren’t enough down the stretch.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3N2LjGEsM3DY-Iv9fRij13zhWfE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19866315/IMG_6449.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="EKnmDW"><strong>Game 14: vs Purdue</strong></p>
<p id="WL3VTJ"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 31-29</p>
<p id="RDhmsm"><strong>Record: </strong>(8-6, 1-4)</p>
<p id="SfWZ8v">Finally, a breakthrough. My first win of conference play came as a huge upset over No. 6 ranked Purdue at Welsh-Ryan. Sitting at 0-4 in conference play, I decided to act on the advice given to me from commenter C.E. Bell on my first post, giving <span>John Shurna</span> the start over <span>Luka Mirkovic</span> to shake things up. Keep commenting with any suggestions folks, your advice can help lead to victories.</p>
<p id="nWbANl"><strong>Game 15: at Ohio State</strong></p>
<p id="BZ2OKh"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 64-44</p>
<p id="qO7U63"><strong>Record: </strong>(8-7, 1-5)</p>
<p id="Q0pCln">I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty if I tried to play the No. 3 team in the nation on the road, so I didn’t even bother trying. Cowardly, I know. But I have to save my attention span and abilities for the games where I have a chance. Buckeyes by 20.</p>
<p id="CdF7BA"><strong>Game 16: vs Illinois </strong></p>
<p id="OEPl1K"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 43-41</p>
<p id="mUYpwb"><strong>Record: </strong>(9-7, 2-5)</p>
<p id="V5zZlo">Needed this one badly. A remarkable run down the stretch helped overcome a six-point second half deficit and steal this rivalry win over the Illini. </p>
<p id="AZmhPg"><strong>Game 17: vs Minnesota</strong></p>
<p id="g1xwDN"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 56-51 (2OT)</p>
<p id="jzUdmn"><strong>Record: </strong>(10-7, 3-5)</p>
<p id="YHjtqS">Wow did this one have it all. </p>
<p id="PLPHTx">We could talk all we want about Nash’s heroic performance and Shurna’s clutch triples, but I want to talk about how EA Sports tried to steal this game from the ‘Cats. I present two key pieces of video evidence:</p>
<div id="owb0G5"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.092%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/RMBeQ2PggVHRmlQ0N9" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="TeVB79">The officials not only miss Juice Thompson being fouled at the beginning of the clip seen below, but the baseline official, who has a clear view of the play, fails to make an easy out of bounds call on Minnesota. Egregiously bad refereeing, but somehow not the worst we’d see from the Zebras in this one.</p>
<div id="5PuOBV"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.092%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/gIBerquzY27jcjy1Zx" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="480TRR">This clip solidifies the collusion that was present in The Barn for this game. This was called an offensive foul on Juice Thompson (yes. that’s scrawny 5’10” point guard Juice Thompson) and fouled him out of the game late in regulation. The refs had it out for him for the full 14 minutes. </p>
<p id="EDpG6N">Despite the officiating woes, this prevailed to be a huge road win for Coach Coffman and the boys. Always tough to win on the road in the Big Ten.</p>
<p id="jcvqPh"><strong>Game 18: at Michigan State</strong></p>
<p id="DrJG1l"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 41-26</p>
<p id="RHGVBZ"><strong>Record: </strong>(10-8, 3-6)</p>
<p id="g1GmlF">Well, I tried to recreate some Wildcat magic in East Lansing, and I failed. I even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EOaOykyk64&t=443s">watched highlights from the ‘09 upset</a> at the Breslin Center to get me in the right mindset for this one, but it was a futile effort in the end. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="vvVzB6">
<h1 id="ssa54n"><strong>Game Notes</strong></h1>
<p id="WsfGKx">I won’t hide from the truth. 3-6 is not where I wanted to be in conference after nine games, and I’ve definitely given myself a hole to dig out of in the latter half of Big Ten play. Tied for 8th place in the conference at the halfway mark is certainly not NCAA Tournament-quality, but there is still plenty of time to turn this season around.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iBpa3gbC5fABYAr36qYCYz86kA4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19866350/IMG_9805.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="79L9Nz">The good news? Things should get easier from here on out. I’m done with all my regular season matchups against teams currently in the conference’s Top 4, and I still have two matchups looming with the bottom-feeding Hoosiers. Home tilts with Minnesota, Penn State and Iowa should also produce more favorable matchups compared to the gauntlet I’ve faced so far.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="2Ih5L6">
<p id="hI2MqO"><em>Part III on Friday. Drop lineup suggestions or any other random advice in the comment section. The path to the tournament is uphill, but anything is possible with nine games to go. </em></p>
<p id="MGpv24"></p>
<p id="sAtf8D"></p>
<p id="NnVh40"></p>
<p id="mxQyMc"></p>
<p id="ZeVLS0"></p>
<p id="LUGKuM"></p>
<p id="NeqrCI"></p>
<p id="0S0Bau"></p>
<p id="eTieJU"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/4/2/21200606/entire-season-northwestern-ncaa-basketball-10-juice-thompson-john-shurna-kevin-coble-jeremy-nashJoeWeinberg2020-03-31T11:50:47-05:002020-03-31T11:50:47-05:00I’m so bored I’m playing an entire season with Northwestern on NCAA Basketball 10 (Part 1)
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vMd_Ou2KkWaanL0ipAyLSirl614=/0x42:4032x2730/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66581269/IMG_0550.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Yes, we’re really doing this.</p> <p id="8EEzlb"><em>Living in what feels like a void for content, we here at Inside NU have gone with the decision to launch a special, exclusive, riveting, brand new four-part series. To honor what was originally scheduled to be the week building up to the 2020 Final Four, I will be playing/simulating an entire season with Northwestern men’s basketball via the Xbox 360 and the brutally bad NCAA Basketball 10, undeniably one of the worst sports-related, widely-released video games of the century.</em></p>
<p id="tR7NQh"><em>In these times of trouble and uncertainly, the 2009-10 Wildcats will attempt to do the unthinkable and clinch Northwestern’s first-ever spot in the Big Dance (2017, of course, does not exist in the world of NCAA Basketball 10). </em></p>
<p id="wvikz9"><em>It won’t be easy, but with a little luck, magic and poor video game programming, the Wildcats just may have what it takes to go all the way.</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="VM0bVV">
<p id="mHMNH6">It’s hard to believe things have come to this point. </p>
<p id="ojutqA">At the end of last month, Inside NU content was thriving. The women’s basketball team had just clinched a share of the Big Ten title, and the entire Northwestern sporting community had its eyes set on the mouthwatering prospect of Welsh-Ryan Arena hosting an NCAA Tournament Regional come mid-March.</p>
<p id="H81W6t">Instead, just over a month removed from Northwestern winning its first conference basketball time in 30 years, I’m really about to do a four-part series that involves nothing more than me sitting on my couch and playing a crappy video game that hasn’t been touched since I was in middle school. </p>
<p id="JSlmS2">Crazy how so much can change so quickly.</p>
<h1 id="k51cbW">Preseason Notes</h1>
<p id="BLWzeZ">Using the ‘Dynasty Mode’ feature on NCAA Basketball 10, I’m prepared to give the greater Northwestern fanbase the championship it both needs and deserves in these trying teams. </p>
<p id="sEDJYg">NCAA Basketball 10 imports rosters/schedules from the 2009-10 season (without using student-athletes names and likenesses obviously), meaning we’re dealing with actually one of the better teams in the history of the program. The Wildcats finished 20-14 (7-11 B1G) that season under Bill Carmody, led by double digit season scoring averages from <span>John Shurna</span>, Michael “Juice” Thompson and <span>Drew Crawford</span>. </p>
<p id="MhSQM1">The 2009-10 season marked a second consecutive trip to the NIT for Northwestern in what turned out to be a four-year streak of the Wildcats qualifying for the secondary postseason college men’s basketball tournament. </p>
<p id="P0uEb4">This time around, though, led by head coach and Inside NU editor-in-chief Noah Coffman <em>(editor’s note: I am honored to have the chance to lead this squad to the promised land, but admittedly less honored by the horrific mustache that Joe has forced my avatar to sport)</em>, the Wildcats have bigger goals. They want a trip to the dance.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nxDexgMIk1zpgui8fl3kb7BwKhQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19860182/IMG_9619.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="drBB50">Luckily for Coach Coffman, he’ll have a key piece to work with in <span>Kevin Coble</span> (otherwise known as PF #44), who actually didn’t play in this 2009-10 season in real life due to a left foot injury that took him more than a year to rehab, and eventually led to a dispute that resulted in Coble leaving the program for good. He led NU in scoring the year prior to his injury, and most importantly, he’s the highest rated Wildcat on the team.</p>
<p id="TZGPgN">The starting lineup that I’ll use for the entire season is as seen below (injuries turned off):</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6YUh261GgOWbO3MSIDRhkBFn2fI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19860405/IMG_9451.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="M4TBFB">For reference:</p>
<p id="U5ER2T">PG #22 = <span>Juice Thompson</span> </p>
<p id="HXQWf9">SG #23 = <span>Jeremy Nash</span></p>
<p id="OmZsmx">SF #1 = Drew Crawford</p>
<p id="fvhaql">PF #44 = Kevin Coble</p>
<p id="7MzqmF">PF #12 = Luka Mirković</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="qJmVpi">
<h1 id="4HUB3i"><strong>Non-Conference </strong></h1>
<p id="Id3mRc">For the sake of my own time, I won’t be playing this entire 30+ game season. I’ve decided to simulate a decent portion of non-conference games, although I did take matters into my own hands to play a few games on 7:00 minute halves just to get a feel for game flow and the team’s attributes within the game.</p>
<p id="1wSY1N"><strong>Game 1: vs Northern Illinois </strong></p>
<p id="o2wN2Q"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 36-28</p>
<p id="P9lBfk"><strong>Record: </strong>1-0</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bKiKkRERHr2Vu5k6mWEUTXtnsdU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19860410/IMG_4294.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="iWocYY">I was met with a raucous home crowd for the season opener. The game is littered with unbelievably frustrating bugs, but I was able to get a win on opening night thanks to 19 points from Juice Thompson. Six of those 19 came from the free throw stripe, as Northern Illinois bewilderingly fouled Juice shooting a three on two separate occasions.</p>
<p id="duiyOD">To start what I am now dubbing the Kevin Coble revenge tour, the power forward managed eight points, five boards, and three blocks in his season debut. Coble proved he is here to make a name for himself.</p>
<p id="Rp17ZV"><strong>Game 2: vs No. 11 Butler</strong></p>
<p id="iOPnhO"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 33-29</p>
<p id="nZbCBE"><strong>Record: </strong>2-0</p>
<p id="sDKOxC">The season is off to as fast a start as anyone could have expected. After the expected win over NIU, Northwestern pulled off a monumental upset in Welsh-Ryan against one of the top teams in the nation. <span>Gordon Hayward</span> was locked up by a swarming ‘Cats defense, managing just four points across the entire game. </p>
<p id="dr5QHP">Coble continued his hot start to the year with a dagger three in the final ten seconds to give the ‘Cats an ultimately insurmountable four-point lead. Juice managed another 19 points to lead the way.</p>
<p id="vfMBoH"><em>Side note: Perhaps the most frustrating part of this incredibly frustrating game is the way the ESPN scoreboard abbreviates Northwestern:</em></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/urIIawqsAqt7b6ampmqkJ7SLsbU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19860415/IMG_0550.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="FnD0aT"><em>They got it right in the top corner, but abosloutely butchered it down at the bottom of the screen. “N’Westn?” Seriously? Starting to feel some EA Sports Bias here against the ‘Cats...</em></p>
<p id="w9qTLQ"><strong>Game 3: vs Tennessee State</strong></p>
<p id="98epDP"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 63-48</p>
<p id="W7hIlc"><strong>Record: </strong>3-0</p>
<p id="8w9sCq">Ok, this is where I got bored and started simulating a few games. ‘Cats keep rolling.</p>
<p id="D9x7nJ"><strong>Game 4: vs Liberty</strong></p>
<p id="pNLqhF"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 82-43</p>
<p id="7T6RgS"><strong>Record: </strong>4-0</p>
<p id="anBz8n">Jerry Falwell did not deserve this win and he did not get it. Northwestern should never schedule Liberty ever again.</p>
<p id="pfVOdp"><strong>Game 5: @ Notre Dame</strong></p>
<p id="4PIu3Z"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 66-59</p>
<p id="cntSBU">A tantalizingly close comeback fell just short in the end for the ‘Cats in South Bend. Juice Thompson’s 19 points (again!) weren’t enough at the end of the day as NU suffers its first loss of the season.</p>
<p id="1bGa0P"><strong>Record: </strong>4-1</p>
<p id="jloUXh"><strong>Game 6: @ NC State</strong></p>
<p id="LTVqoL"><strong>Final Score: </strong>L, 31-29</p>
<p id="s6nzwI">I just simply got exposed by gameplay as I got back into the action with a close loss at NC State. Things I’m beginning to learn about this game: there are very few called reach-in fouls, the alley oop is impossible to defend, and Coble cannot dribble for his life in the post (four turnovers).</p>
<p id="3K1oto">Coach Coffman was not impressed by the back-to-back losses:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hVR3Xo31URLwjLvbLemekxifNpg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19860420/IMG_3605_2.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="7uvIyZ"><strong>Record: </strong>4-2</p>
<p id="djWT3u"><strong>Game 7: North Carolina AT&T</strong></p>
<p id="DVPyTp"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 89-47</p>
<p id="ciH7cM">Back to our winning ways on the simulation. Thompson scores 17 of his own, while senior guard Jeremy Nash adds 14 of his own.</p>
<p id="xui2z9"><strong>Record: </strong>5-2</p>
<p id="MNfJml"><strong>Game 8: Stanford</strong></p>
<p id="2dLNxA"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 79-53</p>
<p id="fwaHiY"><strong>Record: </strong>6-2</p>
<p id="1qurxn">Blowout win over Stanford, you gotta love it. Thompson with 22, and how about a 14-piece from John Shurna off the bench! Certainly makes up for what would be the 2019 football game against Stanford, even though that likely never happens in this universe now that I’ve messed with the fabric of space-time.</p>
<p id="KCfITC"><strong>Game 9: Central Connecticut State</strong></p>
<p id="fmxOUk"><strong>Final Score: </strong>W, 76-55</p>
<p id="8gTWkZ"><strong>Record: </strong>7-2</p>
<p id="zAH3lG">Taking care of business in the final non-conference contest of the season. The NCSU and Notre Dame losses might be a minor blow to the resume, but thus far, Coffman and the Wildcats have all their goals ahead of them as they prepare for the start of conference play. </p>
<h1 id="ssa54n">Non-Conference Notes</h1>
<p id="hh5sQP">EA’s Dynasty Mode Bracketology simulation failed to include NU in its projected field as of the last win, but a 7-2 record with a win over No. 11 Butler should give fans confidence heading into B1G play. The play we’ve seen during both user-controlled and simulated games is promsing to say the least, especially considering the game is being played on the ‘All-American’ setting. These matchups are by no means a walk in the park.</p>
<p id="cye9dT">Here’s a statistical breakdown of team production thus far:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AK_n-Ec-KhZa_5IdkLDeZ2igyMQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19860440/IMG_6303.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="ajZoqt">As you can see, depth is a critical issue here. Shurna giving 6.9 (!) points per contest off the bench is encouraging, but Thompson and Coble are seriously pulling the weight for this team on the scoring end through nine games. Also, shout out to Luka Mirković hauling in 12.1 boards per contest. With Coble playing at this best, I truly believe this team has a shot to finish over .500 in conference play.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="tVecIW">
<p id="UY71il"><em>Don’t go anywhere these next few days as I’ll be back with Part 2 as conference play begins. I promise, you won’t want to miss it.</em></p>
<p id="EYiftv"></p>
<p id="3wc6CR"></p>
<p id="Dp0kjs"></p>
<p id="V0mdHD"></p>
<p id="Hhx2QI"></p>
<p id="pnv2X8"></p>
<p id="bcNihP"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/31/21200301/im-so-bored-im-playing-an-entire-season-with-northwestern-mens-basketball-on-ncaa-basketball-10JoeWeinberg2020-03-30T18:16:43-05:002020-03-30T18:16:43-05:00REPORT: NCAA approves waiver allowing schools to offer extra year of eligibility to spring athletes
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L0T1KP3kLEUEfUbqvHPvU4yZc5k=/0x0:1620x1080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66577914/DSC_7851.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>NUSports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It makes sense, but with the NCAA you never know.</p> <p id="LBL2uh">Big news was released in the world of college sports today.</p>
<p id="e6LGLr">All NCAA Division I spring student-athletes will receive the option of an extra year of eligibility for their sport, according to a Monday evening news dump from the organization.</p>
<div id="OdaEKr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DI Council grants waiver to allow additional eligibility for spring sport athletes whose seasons were impacted by COVID-19: <a href="https://t.co/v1zriEBDvR">https://t.co/v1zriEBDvR</a> <a href="https://t.co/g9BbOkmnt0">pic.twitter.com/g9BbOkmnt0</a></p>— NCAA (@NCAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/1244759602438254592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="Frx1gO">According to The Athletic, the NCAA voted on the decision Monday to allow a blanket waiver that schools could apply to grant student-athletes an extra year of eligibility for the missed season. On March 12, the NCAA announced <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/ncaa-cancels-remaining-winter-and-spring-championships">the cancelation of all 2020 athletic competitions</a> through the remainder of the school year amidst growing concern due to the coronavirus pandemic. </p>
<p id="wIcxcB">Essentially, this decision places the power in the hands of schools when it comes to determining how to move forward with all of its spring athletes stripped of a season. The official <a href="https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/division-i-council-extends-eligibility-student-athletes-impacted-covid-19">NCAA press release says</a> that schools will be able to “self-apply a one-year extension of eligibility for spring-sport student-athletes, effectively extending each student’s five-year ‘clock’ by a year.” Winter student-athletes will not be able to receive the waiver.</p>
<p id="uE2hgq">“The Council’s decision gives individual schools the flexibility to make decisions at a campus level,” Council chair and Penn AD M. Grace Calhoun said in the press release. “The Board of Governors encouraged conferences and schools to take action in the best interest of student-athletes and their communities, and now schools have the opportunity to do that.”</p>
<p id="hKP33a">This piece from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F1706789%2F2020%2F03%2F28%2Fdivision-i-vote-coronavirus-senior-eligibility%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidenu.com%2F2020%2F3%2F30%2F21200471%2Freport-ncaa-approves-waiver-allowing-schools-to-offer-extra-year-of-eligibility-to-spring-athletes" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Athletic</a> does a good job of laying out the complex implications of this new NCAA ruling (Option B in the article), and the attention will now shift to respective universities as individual schools and athletic departments have to make difficult decisions regarding the financial feasibility of extending an extra year of eligibility to 2020 spring athletes.</p>
<p id="axetGq">Although the NCAA said in the ruling that it would be flexible with its scholarship and financial aid requirements for athletic programs, this decision is likely not going to play out so simply for schools. With departments across the country set to lose major amounts in revenue due to the canceled winter/spring seasons, it’s hard to foresee a scenario in which every athlete who wants that extra year of eligibility actually receives it. </p>
<p id="e2q4W5">But overall, it’s good news that should serve the college sports community well.</p>
<p id="GxxUEc"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/30/21200471/report-ncaa-approves-waiver-allowing-schools-to-offer-extra-year-of-eligibility-to-spring-athletesJoeWeinberg2020-03-24T13:46:00-05:002020-03-24T13:46:00-05:002021 OL Josh Thompson commits to Northwestern
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kZPb576mO_82kx_misn4sIEW0bE=/0x0:1328x885/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66548346/Screen_Shot_2020_03_24_at_1.18.06_PM.0.png" />
<figcaption>@ThompsonJoshMI</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Make that two commits for Northwestern’s 2021 recruiting class.</p> <p id="nK5ZEx">Kurt Anderson’s pack of #TrenchCats picked up its newest future member, with three-star OL prospect <span>Josh Thompson</span> announcing his commitment to Northwestern on Tuesday.</p>
<div id="0sQqkF">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">COMMITTED !!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/B1GCATS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#B1GCATS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NWO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NWO</a> <a href="https://t.co/FifUVjNTwA">pic.twitter.com/FifUVjNTwA</a></p>— Josh Thompson (@ThompsonJoshMI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThompsonJoshMI/status/1242495157267763202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="qznzip">The lineman out of Fenton, Michigan becomes the first OL commit of the 2021 recruiting class. <span>Thompson</span>’s decision makes him just the second pledged Wildcat for this class, joining ATH Donnie Gray, who committed earlier this month. Northwestern was Thompson’s only Power Conference offer thus far, although he had received offers from nearly half of the MAC.</p>
<p id="hYjuqA">At 6-foot-4, 290 pounds following the completion of his junior season, Thompson is poised to bring some serious size to the Wildcat front as either a guard or tackle. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CDENn">In his junior season highlights</a>, Thompson appears to take the majority of snaps as the right tackle where he shows great ability to pass protect as well as pull and deliver powerful blocks in the open field.</p>
<p id="hjJdJI">Thompson’s commitment was met with an enthusiastic response from offensive line coach Kurt Anderson. #NWO appears to be the group’s newest calling card.</p>
<div id="QJL1Bp">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/aWtBh7Zb2I">pic.twitter.com/aWtBh7Zb2I</a></p>— Kurt Anderson (@OLINEPRIDE) <a href="https://twitter.com/OLINEPRIDE/status/1242479577932402689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="xzKeVV">For now, there is still an indefinite “moratorium” on all on- and off-campus recruiting activities for Big Ten schools, and we have not heard an update from the conference since that statement on March 13. All organized team activities have been suspended until April 6 as well.</p>
<p id="FkFqlI">We should still expect to see a few more 2021 commitments from earlier visits trickle in as the spring rolls along, but there is no doubt that football recruiting for all schools, including Northwestern, will be severely affected by this global pandemic. </p>
<p id="yeXqxi"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/24/21192824/2021-josh-thompson-commit-to-northwestern-fenton-michigan-big-ten-recruiting-pat-fitzgerald-footballJoeWeinberg2020-03-17T11:56:15-05:002020-03-17T11:56:15-05:00Northwestern women’s basketball finishes No. 11 in final AP Poll
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 25 Women’s Northwestern at Ohio State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xbR-dt9NL1HHTu4a2vejw9SM-As=/0x317:2142x1745/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66513397/1203407717.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A consolation accolade for a team that deserved so much more.</p> <p id="aGuAPX">Even with the season canceled, the Northwestern women are still making history.</p>
<p id="6qmgu1">The Wildcats slotted in at the No. 11 spot in the <a href="https://apnews.com/6e1961e205d010fd55d8d7eb44cee764">final AP Top 25 poll of the season</a> released Monday, marking the highest final ranking for the team in program history. The program’s previous best final season ranking was a No. 13 spot achieved back at the end of the 1990 season. </p>
<p id="K2PXSs">With a spot secured in the final AP Top 25, this 2019-20 campaign is now the sixth time Northwestern women’s basketball has finished the season ranked, and the first time since the final 1991 poll. </p>
<p id="ANE4yu">It’s barely any consolation for a team that had its eyes set on hosting a regional and making some noise in the NCAA Tournament, but it still stands to show just how remarkable and historical a season it was for Joe McKeown’s team. It’s still absolutely gut-wrenching to know that the last game this special group played together was a fluke loss in the Big Ten Tournament.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/17/21183679/northwestern-womens-basketball-finishes-no-11-in-final-ap-poll-top-25-joe-mckeown-big-ten-bballJoeWeinberg2020-03-12T11:40:08-05:002020-03-12T11:40:08-05:00Where does Northwestern go from here?
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Tournament-Northwestern vs Minnesota" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Gz6zj9xVacmFOPwUi7aqgeAdGxk=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66491146/usa_today_14172347.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Northwestern’s Big Ten Tournament exit epitomized its tough season.</p> <p id="S9ti5C">INDIANAPOLIS — An ending like this was as predictable as it gets. </p>
<p id="ezvTBG">A first round exit in the Big Ten Tournament for Northwestern was the only way this season was going to an end. All the signs were there from day one. </p>
<p id="p4fVBL">Where to even start? </p>
<p id="Rvn3hW">The numerous transfers announced last offseason? The fact that Chris Collins had to go to a former lacrosse star to fill his starting point guard position? The Merrimack loss to open the season? The Radford loss? The Hartford loss? The countless blown second half leads? </p>
<p id="TyElES">The result we got Wednesday night was always coming. A second consecutive first-day exit in the Big Ten Tournament felt inevitable from the moment the season began.</p>
<p id="Ao5KvF">Northwestern was handedly defeated by Minnesota for the third time this season, crashing out of the Big Ten Tournament and thus finally putting an end to a dreadful season — a season that felt over before it even started.</p>
<p id="mBTBcg">Wednesday’s game followed an all-too-familiar pattern for this iteration of Northwestern basketball. A strong, inspired first half performance followed by a second half meltdown. The 74-57 loss was simply a microcosm of the Wildcats entire 2019-20 campaign.</p>
<p id="WM32fm">Collins’ postgame remarks therefore struck a tone that fans have grown too accustomed to hearing.</p>
<p id="VDRV1x">“I’m really proud of this group,” the head coach said sitting at the podium alongside Boo Buie, Miller Kopp and Pete Nance after the loss. “It’s not about the wins and losses this year. We fought all year long. That’s what I’m so proud about...I’m really excited about the direction of where these guys are headed.”</p>
<p id="ZgnvKt">Looking at that 2019-20 season as a whole, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly that ‘direction’ is. </p>
<p id="2sX4jD">Can you really say the program is trending upward when it won just one conference game against a Big Ten team not named Nebraska? How many legitimate positives can you truly take away from a set of players and coaches that folded time and time again down the stretch in Big Ten play?</p>
<p id="8K1JFd">“This Big Ten this year was a monster. Everybody saw it,” Collins said postgame. “For the most part, over a 20-game season, we were competitive night in and night out with a group that’s never been out there before, and that showed me what these guys are going to be, and it makes me really encouraged about where we’re headed.”</p>
<p id="usiBOx">The optimism exuded at these postgame press conferences from coaches and players regarding the program’s trajectory is expected, but it also feels genuine. There’s a genuine feeling among these players that the results are coming down the line, although there’s nothing left to do but speculate until the team takes the floor next fall.</p>
<p id="42B2qc">The head coach certainly has a point. </p>
<p id="Iz3okf">Northwestern hung around in plenty of its Big Ten contests this year, and complete start-to-finish blowouts were isolated occasions. The Wildcats were a competitive team that gave numerous high-caliber opponents close-calls and overall put some good fights. Their dismal record probably didn’t quite do their season justice, and it’s no surprise that a team full of young players struggled in a conference full of stars. </p>
<p id="WwcAEt">In that sense, can we say that the program is trending ‘downward’? Things can’t get any worse than this season, right?</p>
<p id="tZPIO8">The concern with this Northwestern team moving forward doesn’t lie in the team’s win-loss record, but rather the fact that we saw the same story — the same problems — plague them over and over again in seemingly every game. While players like Ryan Young and Miller Kopp may have made significant individual strides and improvements throughout the season, fundamental team issues remained consistent throughout.</p>
<p id="MEDSGV">Poor defensive positioning. A lack of creativity on offense. The absence of a primary ball handler. The inability to close games. Seeing the Wildcats collapse once again against Minnesota, this time to end their season, left more questions than answers heading into the offseason. The Senior Day performance was a nice boost, but the 2019-20 season ended without instilling much confidence that this team is primed to take the next step as a program. </p>
<p id="lCYQnR">“We’re using this game and this season really as motivation going into the off-season, going into next season,” Kopp said postgame. “Our heads are up, and this season was tough, but we have used and will use every loss, every trial and tribulation as motivation going into the off-season.”</p>
<p id="xVcBpP">Collins and this program deserve the benefit of the doubt this season for playing through some tough injuries and an overall lack of depth, but inexperience can only be an excuse for so long. Simply being ‘competitive’ in a tough conference is not going to fly moving forward, and the utter train wreck that was this season has deservedly ramped up the pressure for the program to show some kind of promise in the future.</p>
<p id="VEha0M">“We’ve got to be better. There’s no question. We’ve got to be better in almost every area,” Collins said. “It’s going to be a huge off-season of development for all of us. Players, coaches, everybody involved in the program.”</p>
<p id="tOJnI5">Northwestern’s roster still includes several of the highest-ranked recruits in program history, and there is still belief among the players that they can get things moving in the right direction. But it’s going to require more than just the flip of a switch. </p>
<p id="t0TVLt">“We have a lot to prove, and I know that we believe that we can accomplish a lot,” Pete Nance said. “That’s what’s most important, and we’re going to stick together and just get to work, and we’re going to get a lot better, and we’ll be back.”</p>
<p id="vaJRdT"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/12/21175943/where-does-northwestern-go-from-here-big-ten-basketball-chrisJoeWeinberg2020-03-12T11:33:42-05:002020-03-12T11:33:42-05:00Big Ten cancels remainder of conference tournament amid health concerns
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Tournament-Nebraska vs Indiana" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kUjgVnc1KRgez5LmL5QP_Yj2FFs=/0x287:4060x2994/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66491086/usa_today_14172846.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Northwestern still lost.</p> <p id="yC1evp">That’ll do it from Indy.</p>
<p id="RDwG3H">The Big Ten announced early Thursday that it will be shutting down its conference tournament as fears surrounding the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/1/31/21113178/what-is-coronavirus-symptoms-travel-china-map">Coronavirus</a> continue to grow. The announcement came just before the second rounds of games was set to tipoff at 11:00 central time. </p>
<p id="lGk4aa">The decision is far from surprising with nearly all conferences having shut down their tournaments by now except for the Big East. The NBA also announced its suspension of its season last night after Utah Jazz player tested positive for the virus. </p>
<p id="Tjldwc">The conference is yet to announce details for naming a champion or making up the tournament at a different time. </p>
<p id="ZfuUIS">For now, March Madness is still scheduled to take place with limited fan attendance, but it seems naive to think that a cancellation or postponement isn’t coming there shortly. </p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/12/21176898/big-ten-cancels-remainder-of-conference-tournament-amid-health-concernsJoeWeinberg2020-03-11T14:33:32-05:002020-03-11T14:33:32-05:00Gamethread, how to watch Northwestern-Minnesota: TV, Radio, Streaming, Line
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE BASKETBALL: MAR 03 Women’s Michigan State at Minnesota" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HZd6uUeSGFhhFUdENvYbapvMm8k=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66485087/1128743426.jpg.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Tourney time.</p> <p id="8Mjs4N">This is it for Northwestern men’s basketball.</p>
<p id="WbDVPW">It’s been a tumultuous 2019-20 season to say the least, but there is still everything to play for with the Big Ten Tournament kicking off in Indianapolis Wednesday evening. No one’s expecting the Wildcats to advance to the next day of action, and they’ll certainly have their hands full against a Minnesota squad that has handedly beaten them twice this season.</p>
<p id="GdHSji">NU has a bit of momentum <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/11/21173212/northwestern-looks-to-ride-glimmer-of-momentum-into-big-ten-tournament-chris-collins-pat-spencer">coming off its biggest win of the season</a>, while the Gophers have been on a bit of a slide recently having lost six of their last eight contests to close the season.</p>
<p id="twuYlZ">All eyes on Bankers Life Fieldhouse tonight. Here’s how you can follow along:</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="3mr7I9">
<h1 id="i0r6z1"><strong>Gameday Information</strong></h1>
<p id="GVQEJz"><strong>Location: </strong>Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)</p>
<p id="zh2B4F"><strong>Tipoff:</strong> 5 p.m. CT</p>
<p id="l3ISHD"><strong>TV:</strong> BTN</p>
<p id="UyYr0T"><strong>Radio:</strong> AM 1160 WYLL (or listen to the students online at <a href="http://wnursports.com/"><strong>wnursports.com</strong></a>)</p>
<p id="NNOHsT"><strong>Online Streaming:</strong> FoxSportsGo</p>
<p id="SDYeHN"><strong>Betting Line:</strong> Northwestern +8.5, O/U 138</p>
<p id="0McjiR"><strong>KenPom Prediction:</strong> Minnesota 73, Northwestern 64 (21 percent chance of NU win)</p>
<p id="bONtaO"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/11/21175367/gamethread-how-to-watch-northwestern-minnesota-tv-radio-streaming-line-big-ten-tournament-basketballJoeWeinberg2020-03-10T13:59:47-05:002020-03-10T13:59:47-05:00Baseball: Doherty shines as ‘Cats win three of four games on the week
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/42FFCuQ4zqa6vVrtye1t_Nwgm10=/0x12:1678x1131/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66477531/Screen_Shot_2020_03_10_at_1.05.10_PM.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The ‘Cats are now two games over .500 in games played in the state of South Carolina.</p> <p id="tz2EnD">After a tough series sweep at the hands of South Florida last weekend, Northwestern baseball bounced back with a solid week to begin March, winning three of its four games over the course of last week.</p>
<p id="Gb1Vu9">The ‘Cats got a rare taste of March baseball in Chicago as they finally got to play their annual early scheduled matchup with University of Illinois-Chicago that had been cancelled the last two years. Taking advantage of some nice spring weather, Spencer Allen’s team headed to the city to face the Flames and got the job done with a convincing 8-2 win.</p>
<p id="fgqH95">Sophomore outfielder David Dunn stole the show with an early two-run shot that put the Wildcats ahead from the start. It was his second bomb of the season, although he hasn’t had much overall offensive success thus far, hitting just .214 through three games.</p>
<p id="kr9j7L">After the midweek game in Chicago, the ‘Cats headed back down to South Carolina for the second time this season to face off against Western Carolina and South Carolina-Upstate in three games over the weekend. </p>
<p id="jzRuuZ">Sophomore Mike Doherty was the story of the weekend opener, pitching six scoreless innings as the Wildcats rolled to a 4-0 victory over Western Carolina. Doherty has been an absolute stud on the mound for NU. His ERA sits at 0.86 through four starts and 21 total innings pitched. He has given the Wildcats good innings in all of his starts so far which has been critical in keeping a young, inexperienced bullpen well-rested and able to last the entire weekend.</p>
<p id="LVrYuW">The righty has allowed just five walks through his four starts and is yet to surrender a home run.</p>
<p id="NqD4UH">The ‘Cats stayed hot on Saturday with a 4-2 win over South Carolina-Upstate. They got another solid start from freshman Tyler Uberstine, who gave the Wildcats seven innings on the mound while only allowing just five hits and two earned runs. Senior Leo Kaplan, one of the few veterans on the team, continued to excel at the plate with a 2-for-4 afternoon. He ranks second on the team hitting .324 in 37 at-bats.</p>
<p id="NSg8P1">Sunday proved to just be an absolutely wild game between the Wildcats and the Spartans. In a game that featured four lead changes in the first three innings, SCU outlasted NU 11-9, and prevented the Wildcats from finishing the weekend with a perfect record. Charlie Maxwell got the job done in the leadoff spot hitting 4-for-6 on the day, and freshman Evan Minarovic continued his hot start to his NU career with three RBIs on two hits.</p>
<p id="NnGzXN">The Wildcats have gotten fantastic production from some of their young starting pitchers thus far, but junior southpaw Quinn Lavelle has struggled mightily in his last three appearances. There were times last year when it looked as if Lavelle had locked down the no. 1 starting slot in the rotation moving forward, but his ERA sits at a woeful 13.50 through four starts this season.</p>
<p id="yPIqSU">He hasn’t been able to make it out of the third inning in each of his last three starts, and NU might have to consider trying out a new third starter given how Lavelle has fared in 2020.</p>
<p id="wfojAR">Northwestern’s home opener is scheduled for this Friday against Kent State, although early weather reports suggest Mother Nature could have other ideas. After that, conference play is a week away with Penn State coming to Evanston the following weekend. </p>
<p id="sQi9pd"></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2020/3/10/21173573/baseball-doherty-shines-as-cats-win-three-of-four-games-on-the-weekJoeWeinberg